Merry-go-round



Nov. 3, 1964 o. E. WALDEN 3,155,333

MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed Nov. 16, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 1 l 3 IINVENTOR.

OEV/AZE 5. M40245 arraen/svs.

0. E. WALDEN Nov. 3, 1964 MERRY-GO-ROUND 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1962 IN VEN TOR,

0E V/LL 5 1 W44. DEM

Nov. 3, 1964 o. E. WALDEN 3,155,388

MERRY-GOROUND Filed Nov. 16, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. F] G. 9 oer/44E E. M44 05/! 4 7' 7' GENE Y5.

prises an upwardly United States Patent 3,155,388 IVfERRY-GO-ROUND Orville E. Walden, Box 46, Nilwood, Ill. Filed Nov. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 233,173 20 Claims. ((31. 272-33) This invention relates to a novel rider-operated merrygo-round.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a safe, etiicient, simple, and practical device of the kind indicated, which is devised to be made in different sizes, for home and playground use, and which affords children exercise and amusement greater than is obtainable from motor-driven devices of this kind.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above, which features resiliently mounted horses, whose upward and downward movements, produced by actions of the riders, operates ratchet and gear means for rotating the wheel of the device.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a device of the character indicated above, of ratchet means for preventing retrograde rotation of the wheel, and of releasable clutch means for connecting and disconnecting the gear means, whereby the wheel can be disconnected from the gear means, so that operation of the ratchet means by children bouncing on the horses will not produce rotation of the wheel, when such is not desired.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a device of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation thereof, some of the horses being removed;

FIGURE 3- is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 7 through 10 are views like FIGURE 6, showing difierent forms of ratchet drives and flexible horse supports; and

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a further form of flexible horse support.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and related numerals designate like and related parts throughout the several views, and first to FIGURES 1 through 6, the device therein illustrated comprises a horizontal support 14, which can be a floor or a ground surface, upon which is fixedly mounted a base 16 having a reduced diameter upstanding externally threaded pedestal 18 thereon, on which is threaded a nut 20. A bearing ring 22 surrounds the pedestal 18 and bears upon the upper side of the nut 26. The upper surface of the bearing ring 22 is formed with laterally spaced chordal grooves 21, in which the horizontal arms 23 of a fork 25 slide. The arms 23 have shallow terminal portions 27 at whose inward ends are upwardly angled ramps 29 which merge into the upper surfaces of deep portions 31. The arms 23 have upstanding stops 33, at the inner ends of the deep portions 31. a

A closed vertical cylindrical gear housing 28 comopeningcuphaped lower section 26 having a bottom wall 24 which bears upon the fork 25,

normally resting upon the deep portions 31 of the fork arms 23, as shown in FIGURE 3. The lower housing section 26 has an upstanding sidewall 30 on the exterior of which is fixed an upwardly facing ratchet ring 32, with which is engaged a ratchet pawl 34 mounted on the lower part of the sidewall 36 of the inverted cup-shaped upper section 38 of the housing 28. The lower section of the housing 28 is slidably splined to the pedestal 18, as indicated at 19.

Whenever it is desired to disengage the ratchet ring 32 from the ratchet pawl 34 and the drive pinion 122 from a crown gear 82, to enable the upper gear housing section 36 to run free with respect to the lower housing section 26-, the lower housing section 26 can be lowered on the pedestal 18, to which it is keyed, as indicated at 19, by moving the fork 25, in an outward direction, so as to cause the deep portions 31 of the fork arms 23 to move out from under the lower housing section 26 and let the housing section 26 down upon the shallow terminal portions 27 of the arms 23. For this purpose, a horizontal push-pull rod 37 is provided, which is swivelly connected, at its inner end, as indicated at 39, to the outer end of the fork 25, and is pivoted, at its outer end, as indicated at 41, to the lower end of an operating lever 43. The lever 43 is pivoted, intermediate its ends, as indicated at 45, on the upper end of a stand 47, which rests upon the support 14, at the outer edge of the wheel 76 of the device.

The fork 25 is moved inwardly, by operating the lever 43, when it is desired to elevate the lower bearing housing section 26 for reen-gaging the ratchet ring 32 with the ratchet pawl 34, so that the ramps 29 engage the near side of the lower section 26 and elevate the same sufficiently to enable the deep fork arm portions 31 to move supportably under the lower section 26. The stops 33 engage the near side of the lower section 26 and prevent the fork from being moved too far inwardly.

The upper housing section 38 has a top wall 40 which is provided with a central opening 42, in which is suitably fixed the lower end of a vertically elongated tubular spindle housing 44, which spacedly encloses a spindle 46 which is fixed to and rises from the upper end of the pedestal 18. The spindle 46 is smaller in diameter than the pedestal 18 and therewith defines an annular shoulder 48, which is outwardly angled and is opposed to and parallel with an inwardly angled annular shoulder 50, in the lower end of the spindle housing 44. Balls 52 or other suitable anti-friction bearings are seatably confined in grooves 54 and 56, in the shoulders 48 and 5t), respectively.

The spindle 46 has a reduced upper end 53,,defining a shoulder 60, and an annular anti-friction bearing 62 is circumposed on the upper end 58 and rests upon the shoulder 60, and has its outer race 64 securably seated in a groove 66, within the upper end of the spindle housing 44. A nut 61 is threaded on the upper end 58 and holds the bearing 62 down in place.

The lower part of the spindle housing 44 has externally fixed thereon an annular horizontal plate 68 which rests upon and is fixed, as indicated at 72, to the top wall 40 of the upper section 38 of the gear housing 28. Diagonal brace bars 74 are suitably afiixed to the upper part of the spindle housing 44 and the plate 68, at the outer edge thereof. The plate 63 constitutes a part of a horizontal wheel 76, which includes an outer horizontal ring 78, which is fixed, as indicated at 80, at its inner edge, to the plate 68.

The gear housing 28 encloses, a suitable lubricant being contained therein, an upwardly facing crown gear 82 which has a central opening 34 receiving and splined to the pedestal'18. The crown gear 82'has upwardly facing Patented Nov. 3, 1964- bevel gear teeth 86, on its peripheral edge and which is fixed, at its lower end, to the lower housing section 26.

Horizontal radial, circumferentially spaced drive shafts 118 are. spaced beneath the wheel 76 and are supported, at their outer ends, in brackets 120 fixed to and extending downwardly from the Wheel ring 78, and are journaled, at their inner ends in bearings 124, in the side wall 36 of the upper housing section 38. The shafts 113 have pinions 122, on their inner ends, which are in mesh with the teeth 85 of the crown gear 32.

The drive shafts 118 are driven by means of ratchet wheels 126 fixed thereon, at the inner sides of the brackets 120, and engaged by ratchet pawlslZS, pivoted on the adjacent sides of pawl wheels 13%, which are journaled on the drive shafts, between the brackets 120 and the ratchet wheels 1126. The pawl wheels 136 have tangential levers 131 fixed thereto, as shown in FIGURE 6, which extend to and are pivoted, as indicated at 132, to the lower ends of vertical bars 134, which work freely through openings 136, provided in the wheel ring. The bars 134 are pivoted, at their upper ends, as indicated at 133, to brackets 14%, which are suitably fixed to the undersides of the bodies 142 of horses 144 or other animal figures. When the horses 144 are depressed by children riding thereon, the bars 134 move downwardly and rotate the pawl wheels 13%, in a direction to engage the ratchet pawls 128 with the ratchet wheels 12 6 and rotate the drive shafts 118, for rotating the wheel 76. When thereafter the bars 134 rise, the pawls 128 ratchet over the ratchet wheels 12-6 and do not produce rotation of the drive shafts.

The horses 144 are mounted upon the wheel ring 78, by means of resilient spring mountings 146, which comprise reclining U-shaped fiat springs, have lower arms 148 suitably fixed upon the wheel ring 78, in chordal position, and dual laterally spaced upper horizontal arms The upper arms 150, as shown in FIGURE 3, are disposed at opposite sides of and are spaced from the brackets 140, and are individually fixed, as indicated at 152, to the undersides of the bodies of the horses 144. This arrangement provides for limited lateral movements of the horses 144, relative to the wheel 76, as well as up and downmovements relative thereto, as produced by children riding upon the horses.

It will be understood from the foregoing that, upward and downward movements of the horses 144 produce rotation of the wheel 76, through rotation of the shafts 113, the pinions 122, and the crown gear 82.

Another form of ratchet mechanism is shown in FIG- URE 10, wherein the vertical bar 131 i works in a guide way 154 secured beneath the wheel ring, and has a rack 156 engaged with teeth 158 on the pawl wheel 126*, the upper end of the bar being pivoted, at 133, to the bracket 149 secured to the body of a horse 144.

FIGURE 7 shows a further form of ratchet mechanism and spring mounting for the horses 144, wherein a horizontal rock lever 16%) is pivoted, at one end, at 161, to the upper end of the vertical bar 134 and is pivotally sup: ported, between its ends, at 15.3, on an upstanding bracket 162, on a base plate 164, suitably fixed upon the wheel ring 78, beneath the body of a horse 144. The horse is fixed upon the lever 160. Rocking movements of the rock lever 16th are controlled by a first coil spring 166, stretched between a lower part of the bracket 162 and a part of the rock lever between the bracket and the vertical bar 134', and .by a second spring 163, on the opposite side of the bracket 162. The second spring 158 is stretched between the base plate 164 and the lower end of a vertical adjusting screw 179, which is threaded through the free end of the rock lever 160, and has thereon a lock nut 1'72, adapted to bear against the rock lever, for maintaining a tension adjustment of the springs, to accommodate horse riders of different weights.

FIGURE 8 shows an alternative form of spring mounting 146 for a horse 144-, which comprises an elongated S-curved leaf spring 174, occupying a declining position, relative to the wheel ring 78. The spring 174 has a lower arm 176 passing freely through an opening 178, provided in the wheel ring and extending below the ring, where it is traversed, at its free end by a vertical tension adjusting bolt 18%), which works upwardly through the wheel ring 78 and has a collar 182 fixed thereon above the ring 78. A look nut 184 on the bolt 180 engages the underside of the spring arm 17 6. A bracket 1S6, fixed on the upper side of the Wheel ring 78, has an arm 188 overlying the bolt 180, and a coil spring 19%), circumposed on the bolt, is compressed between the arm 188 and the collar 182. The spring 174 has an upper arm 19.2, spaced above the wheel ring '78, which is adapted to be fixed to the underside of the body of a horse 144.

FIGURE 9 shows a still further form of spring mounting 146 for a horse 144, which comprises an upstanding bracket 1% having a transverse shaft 1% journaled therethrough, having fixed thereon a pendant arm 1%. The bracket 19 has spaced ears 2% through which adjustable stop screws 20?. are threaded inwardly toward the opposite sides of the arm 198 for adjusting the rotary portion of the shaft 1%, in order to increase or decrease the tension of a spiral spring 2414, which surrounds the shaft 196, and has its inner end fixed thereto, as indicated at 2%. The outer end of the spring 204 is extended tangentially therefrom to provide a horizontal arm 2E8, adapted to be secured to the underside of the body of a horse A still further form of spring mounting is shown in FIGURE 11, which comprises an open horizontal ring 224, adapted to be secured upon the upper surface of the wheel ring 73, from whose spaced ends reclining J-shaped springs 226 extend and reach across the ring 224, and have straight horizontal portions 228 which are adapted to be secured to the underside of the body of a horse 144.

Although there have been shown and described preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily con-fined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: i

l. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts.

2. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon thepedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacentto its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in th regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said gear housing. comprising a lower section to which the crownsgear is fixed, an upper rotary section fixed the wheel and rotatable relative to the lower housing section, said lower section being vertically movable toward and away from the upper section, a bearing ring splined on the pedestal beneath the lower housing section, a nut on the pedestal beneathand supporting the bearing ring, and manual actuated means interposed between the bearing ring and the lower housing section for elevating the lower housing section for engaging the crown gear with the pinions.

3 A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journalled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings and ratchet mechanisms openatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said ratchet mechanisms comprising wheels free on the drive shafts, pawl wheels fixed on the shafts, ratchet pawls pivoted on the wheels and engaged with the pawl wheels, vertical bars working through the wheel and pivoted at their upper ends to the horses, and means operatively connecting the vertical bars at their lower ends to the wheels.

4. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined on the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel euclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and adapted to be meshed with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrylng the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms ope-ratively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said gear housing comprising a vertically movable lower section to which the crown gear is fixed, and an upper rotary section fixed to the wheel and rotatable relative to the lower section, said drive shafts being journaled on the upper housing section, a nut threaded on the pedestal below the lower housing section, a bearing ring on the pedestal and bearing upon the nut, manual actuated means interposed between the lower housing section and the bearing ring for elevating the lower section relative to the upper section for engaging the crown gear with the drive shaft pinions, and ratchet means operating between the gear housing sections and precluding retrograde rotation of the wheel on the pedestal.

5. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined on the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferential'ly spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on the inner ends supported on the housing and adapted to be meshed with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operative'lyconnected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said gear housing comprising a vertically movable lower section to which the crown gear is fixed, and an upper rotary section fixed to the wheel and rotatable relative to the lower section, said drive shafts'being iournaled on the upper housing section,

a nut threaded on the pedestal below the lower housing section, a bearing ring on the pedestal and bearing upon the nut, manual actuated means interposed betwcen'the lower housing section and the bearing ring for elevating the lower section relative to the upper section for engaging the crown gear with the drive shaft pinions, and ratchet means operating between the gear housing sections and precluding retrograde rotation of the wheel on the pedestal, a spindle fixed to and rising from the pedestal, a spindle housing fixed to the wheel and spacedly surrounding the spindle, lower bearing means in the spindle housing for the spindle, and upper bearing means within the spindle housing for the upper end of the spindle.

6. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operattively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said ratchet mechanisms comprising wheels free on the drive shafts, ratchet wheels fixed on the shafts, ratchet pawls pivoted on the wheels and engaged with the ratchet wheels, vertical bars working through the wheel and pivoted at their upper ends to the horses, and means operatively connecting the vertical bars at their lower ends to the wheels, and levers fixed to the wheels and pivoted to the vertical bars.

7. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal Wheel surrounding journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the egions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms openatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said ratchet mechanisms comprising wheels free on the drive shafts, ratchet wheels fixed on the shafts, ratchet pawls pivoted on the wheels and engaged with the ratchet wheels, vertical bars working through the wheel and pivoted at their upper ends to the horses, and means operatively connecting the vertical bars at their lower ends to the wheels, said wheels having peripheral teeth, said vertical bars having racks engaged with the teeth on said wheels.

8. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal. on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumterentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer endsof the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisrns operatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said spring mountings comprising reclining U-shaped springs having lower arms a fixed to the wheel and upper arms spaced above the wheel upon which the horses are secured.

9. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizonal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said spring mountings comprising upstanding brackets on the wheel, horizontal rock levers pivoted between their ends on the brackets, the horses being secured upon the rock levers, a first coil spring stretched between a lower part of the bnacket at one side of the bracket and the rock lever, a second coil spring at the other side of the bracket, a vertical tension adjusting screw threaded through the rock lever, said second spring being stretched between the screw and a lower part of the bracket.

10. A merry-go-round comprising a. base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said spring mountings comprising leaf springs disposed at a declining angle to the wheel and having upper arms on which the horses are secured, the wheel having openings through which the leaf springs extend downwardly, the springs having lower arms spaced below the wheel, vertical bolts working through the Wheel and through said lower arms, adjustable stop nuts on [the bolts and engaging the undersides of the lower arms, brackets on the wheel, collars on the bolts above the Wheel, and springs compressed between the brackets and the collars.

11. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the.

housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the driveshafts, said spring mountings comprising upstanding brackets on the wheel, transverse shafts journaled through the brackets and having pendant arms fixed thereon, opposed adjusting bolts on the brackets engageable with opposite sides of the arms, a spiral spring surrounding the shafts and having an inner end fixed to the shafts, the spiral spring having free outer ends-eventuating in horizontal arms upon'which the horses are secured.

12; A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined to the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and in mesh with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said spring mountings comprising horizontal open rings secured upon the wheel, reclining J-shaped members fixed on and rising from the ends of the ring, said members having laterally spaced horizontal arms upon which the horses are secured.

13. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined on the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and adapted to be meshed with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said gear housing comprising a vertically movable lower section to which the crown gear is fixed and an upper rotary section fixed to the wheel and rotatable relative to the lower section, said drive shafts being journaled on the upper housing section, a nut threaded on the pedestal below the lower housing, a bearing ring on the pedestal and bearing upon the nut, manual actuated means interposed between the lower housing section and the bearing ring for elevating the lower section relative to the upper section for engaging the crown gear with the drive shaft pinions, and ratchet means operating between the gear housing sections and precluding retrograde rotation of the wheel on the pedestal, a spindle fixed to and rising. from the pedestal, a spindle housing fixed to the wheel and spacedly surrounding the spindle, lower bearing means in the spindle housing for the spindle, and upper bearing means within the spindle housing for the upper end of the spindle, and declining brace bars extending between and connected to the wheel and the upper ends of the spindle housing.

14. A merry-go-round comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal on the base, a crown gear surrounding and splined on the pedestal, a horizontal wheel surrounding and journaled upon the pedestal, a housing beneath the wheel enclosing the crown gear, radial circumferentially spaced horizontal drive shafts beneath the wheel and having pinions on their inner ends supported on the housing and adapted to be meshed with the crown gear, pendant brackets on the wheel adjacent to its outer edge carrying the outer ends of the drive shafts, vertically compressible spring mountings fixed upon and upstanding from the wheel in the regions of the outer ends of the drive shafts, horses mounted upon the spring mountings, and ratchet mechanisms operatively connected between the horses and the outer ends of the drive shafts, said gear housing comprising a vertically movable lower section to which the crown gear is fixed and an upper rotary section fixed to the wheel and rotatable relativeto the lower section, said drive shafts being journaled on the upper housing section, a nut threaded on the pedestal below the lower housing section, a bearing ring on the pedestal and bearing upon the nut, manual actuated means interposed between the lower housing section and the bearing ring for elevating thelower section relative to the upper section for engaging the crown-gear with the drive shaft pinions, and ratchet means operating between the gear housing sections-and 'precluding retrograde rotation-ofthe wheel on the pedestal, said wheel'comprising a circular horizontal plate fixed-to andsurrounding the uppersection of the housing, and a rin'gsurroundirig-the plate and overlapping the plate, and means fixing the wheel ring to the plate.

A merry-go-round comprising a base, a cylindrical pedestal fixed to and rising from'theb-ase, a nut threaded on-thepedestalf a bearing ring-circumposed on the pedestal and resting upon the nut, a gear housing surrounding thepedest-al comprising a lower sectionhaving a bo'ttomwall providdwith a central opening vertically slidably splined to the pedestal against rotation relative thereto, and an upper section above the'lower section and having a pendant-sidewall having pendant ratchet pawl means onits loweredge, said upper section having a top wall provided-with a central opening, bearing means on the 'edge of the top-wall opening suPPQrtably engaged with the pedestal at the upper-end thereof and journaling theuppersection for rotationon the pedestal relative to the lower sectioma ratchet'ringfixed on and surrounding the lowersection with which saidratchetpawl means is engaged only in an" elevated position of t the lower housing section, a crown gear within the housing surrounding the pedestal and fixed to the -lower housing section, a wheel pedestal fixed to and rising from the base,'a nut threaded on the pedestal, a bearing ring circumposed on-the pedestal and resting upon-the nut,a gear housing surrounding the pedestal comprising a lower section having a bot' tornwall provided with a central opening vertically slidably receiving and splined-to the pedestal against rotation relative thereto and. an. upper sectionabove the lower section and having a pendant side wall'having pendant ratchetvpawl means-on its lower edge, said upper section having a top wall provided with a central opening,

bearing means on the edge of thetop wallopening supportably engaged with the pedestal atv the upper-end thereof: and journaling the upper section for rotation on the pedestal relative to the lower section, a ratchet ring fixed on and surrounding the lower section with which said ratchet pawl means is engaged only in an elevated position of the lower housing section, a crown gear with in the housing surrounding the pedestal and fixed to the lower housing section, a wheel comprising a circular plate having an axial opening receiving the upper end of the pedestal and said bearing means, said plate being fixed to the top wall of the upper housing section, horizontal drive shafts beneath the plate and journaled thereon, said shafts being journaled through the side wall of the upper housing section and having pinions fixed thereon within the upper housing section, said crown gear being in mesh with the drive shaft pinions only in the elevated position of the lower section, and means for elevating the lower housing section on the pedestal from a depressed position to an elevated position, said elevating means comprising grooves in the upper surface of the bearing ring at opposite sides of the pedestal, a horizontal fork having Y said portions, said fork-being endwise movable to position the depressed portions beneath the lower housing section for depressing the same and to position the -e1e-- vated portions beneath the lower housing section for.

provided with a central opening vertically slidably splined L to the pedestal against rotation relative thereto and an upper section above the lower section and having a pendant side-wall having pendant ratchet pawl-means on its lower edge, said upper section having a top wall provided with a central opening, bearing means on the edge of the top wall opening supportably engaged with the pedestal at the upperend thereof and journaling the upper section for rotation on the/pedestal relative to the lower section, a ratchet ring fixed on and surrounding thelower section with which said ratchetpawl means is engaged only in an elevated position of the lower housing section, a crown gear within the housing surrounding the pedestal and fixed to the lower housing section, a wheel comprising a circular plate having an axial open-ing receiv ing the upper end of the pedestal and said bearingmeans, said plate being-fixed to the top wall of the upper housing section, horizontal-drive shafts beneath the plate and journaled thereon,said shafts being journaled through the side wallof'the upper housing section and having pinions fixed thereon within the upper housing section,

said crown gear being in mesh with the drive shaft pinions only in the elevated position of-the lower section, and means for elevating the lower housing section on the pedestal from a depressedposition to'an elevated position, said elevating means comprising grooves in the uppersurface of the bearing ring at opposite sides of the pedestal, a horizontal fork having 'armssliding in said grooves, said arms havingdepressed portionsand elevated portions, and ramps connecting said portions, said' forkbeing endwise movableto position the depressed portions beneath the lower housing section-for depressing the same and to position the-elevated portions beneaththe lower housing section for elevating the same, and means foractuating the fork, said actuating meanscornprising a horizontal push pull rod having an inner end connected to the fork and an outer end, a stand resting upon the base and having a vertical lever pivoted intermediate its ends thereon, the outer end of the rod being pivoted to the lower end of the lever.

18; A merry-go-round comprising a base, a cylindrical pedestal fixed to and rising from the base, a nut threaded on the pedestal, a bearing ring circumposed on the podestal and resting upon the nut, a gear housing surround-- ing the pedestal comprising a lower section having a bottom wall provided with a central opening vertically slidably receiving the pedestal and splined to the pedestal against rotation relative thereto and an upper section above the lower section and having a pendant side wall having pendant ratchet pawl means on its lower edge, said upper section having a top Wall provided with a central opening, bearing means on the edge of the top wall opening supportably engaged with the pedestal at the upper end thereof and journaling the upper section for rotation on the pedestal relative to the lower section, a ratchet ring fixed on and surrounding the lower section with which said ratchet pawl means is engaged only in an elevated position of the lower housing section, a crown gear within the housing surrounding the pedestal and fixed to the lower housing section, a wheel comprising a circular plate having an axial opening receiving the upper end of the pedestaland said bearing means, said plate being fixed to thetop wall of the upper housing section, horizontal drive shafts beneath the plate and journaled thereon, said shafts being journaled through the side wall of the upper housing section'having pinions fixed thereon within the upper housing section, said crown gear being in mesh with the drive shaft pinions only in the elevated position of the lower section, and means for elevating the lower housing section on the pedestal from a depressed position to an elevated position, movable rider actuated means supported on the base, and ratchet and pawl means operatively connecting the rider actuated means with the drive shafts.

19, A merry-go-round comprising a base, a cylindrical pedestal fixed to and rising from the base, a nut threaded on the pedestal, a bearing ring circumposed on the pedestal and resting upon the nut, a gear housing surrounding the pedestal comprising a lower section having a bottom wall provided with a central opening vertically slidably receiving the pedestal and splined to the pedestal against rotation relative thereto and an upper section above the lower section and having a pendant side wall having pendant ratchet pawl means on its lower edge, said upper section havin a top wall provided with a central open ing, bearing means on the edge of the top wall opening supportably engaged with the pedestal at the upper end thereof and journaling the upper section for rotation on the pedestal relative to the lower section, a ratchet ring fixed on and surrounding the lower section with which said ratchet pawl means is engaged only in an elevate position of the lower housing section, a crown gear within the housing surrounding the pedestal and fixed to the lower housing section, a wheel comprising a circular plate having an axial opening receiving the upper end of the pedestal and said bearing means, said plate being fixed to the top wall of the upper housing section, horizontal drive shafts beneath the plate and journaled thereon, said shafts being journaled through the side wall of the upper housing section and having pinions fixed thereon within the upper housing section, said crown gear being in mesh with the drive shaft pinions only in the elevated position of the lower section, and means for elevating the lower housing section on the pedestal from a depressed position to an elevated position, said elevating means comprising grooves in the upper surface of the bearing ring at opposite sides of the pedestal, a horizontal fork having arms sliding in said grooves, said arms having depressed portions and elevated portions, and ramps connecting said portions, said fork being endwise movable to position the depressed portions beneath the lower housing section for depressing the same and to position the elevated portions beneath the lower housing section for elevating the same, and means for actuating the fork, movable rider actuated means supported on the base, and ratchet and pawl means operatively connecting the rider actuated means with the drive shafts.

20. A merry-go-round comprising a base, a cylindrical pedestal fixed to and rising from the base, a nut threaded 12 on the pedestal, a bearing ring circumposed on the pod estal and resting upon the nut, a gear housing surrounding the pedestal comprising a lower section having a bottom wall provided with a central opening vertically slidably receiving the pedestal and splined to the pedestal against rotation relative thereto and an upper section above the lower section and having a pendant side wall having pendant ratchet pawl means on its lower edge, said upper section having a top Wall provided with a central opening, bearing means on the edge of the top wall opening supportably engaged with the pedestal at the upper end thereof and journaling the upper section for rotation on the pedestal relative to the lower section, a ratchet ring fixed on and surrounding the lower section with which said ratchet pawl means is engaged only in an elevated position of the lower housing section, a crown gear within the housing surrounding the pedestal and fixed to the lower housing section, a wheel comprising a circular plate having an axial opening receiving the upper end of the pedestal and said bearing means, said plate being fixed to the top wall of the upper housing section, horizontal drive shafts beneath the plate and journaled thereon, said shafts being journaled through the side wall of the upper housing section and having pinions fixed thereon within the upper housing section, said crown gear being in mesh with the drive shaft pinions only in the elevated position of the lower section, and means for elevating the lower housing section on the pedestal from a depressed position to an elevated position, said elevating means comprising grooves in the upper surface of the bearing ring at opposite sides of the pedestal, a horizontal fork having arms sliding in said grooves, said arms having depressed portions and elevated portions, and ramps connecting said portions, said fork being endwise movable to position the depressed portions beneath the lower housing section for depressing the same and to position the elevated portions beneath the lower housing section for elevating the same, and means for actuating the fork, said actuating means comprising a horizontal push-pull rod having an inner end swivelly connected to the fork and an outer end, a stand resting upon the base and having a vertical lever pivoted intermediate its ends thereon, the outer end of the rod being pivoted to the lower end of the lever, movable rider actuated means supported on the base, and ratchet and pawl means operatively connecting the rider actuated means-with the drive shafts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A MERRY-GO-ROUND COMPRISING A BASE, AN UPSTANDING PEDESTAL ON THE BASE, A CROWN GEAR SURROUNDING AND SPLINED TO THE PEDESTAL, A HORIZONTAL WHEEL SURROUNDING AND JOURNALED UPON THE PEDESTAL, A HOUSING BENEATH THE WHEEL ENCLOSING THE CROWN GEAR, RADIAL CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED HORIZONTAL DRIVE SHAFTS BENEATH THE WHEEL AND HAVING PINIONS ON THEIR INNER ENDS SUPPORTED ON THE HOUSING AND IN MESH WITH THE CROWN GEAR, PENDANT BRACKETS ON THE WHEEL ADJACENT TO ITS OUTER EDGE CARRYING THE OUTER ENDS OF THE DRIVE SHAFTS, VERTICALLY COMPRESSIBLE SPRING MOUNTINGS FIXED UPON AND UPSTANDING FROM THE WHEEL IN THE REGIONS OF THE OUTER ENDS OF THE DRIVE SHAFTS, HORSES MOUNTED UPON THE SPRING MOUNTINGS, AND RATCHET MECHANISMS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN THE HORSES AND THE OUTER ENDS OF THE DRIVE SHAFTS. 